Being Church...differently Pt.1

Today I wrote to all church members as follows:

Dear Friends

I am writing to tell you that at our Leadership Team Meeting today we have had to make the decision to suspend our church services and all meetings for the time being. This includes Sundays and Rendezvous, it also includes meetings of Home Groups and all other group meetings.

In making this decision we have considered three factors:

1. Government advice. In Parliament last night it was made clear that the advice on avoiding 'unnecessary social contact' includes church services. 

2. Care for the vulnerable. We have a responsibility to  play our part in minimising the opportunities for Coronavirus to spread amongst our friends and neighbours. In suspending services and activities we are radically reducing the risk of Holy Trinity being a source of someone picking up and passing on the virus. In this way we are loving our neighbour.

3. Church of England advice. As I am writing this letter, the Archbishops have written as follows:  

In light of the Government guidance around non-essential contact, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York have issued advice that public worship is suspended until further notice. You can read more here.

I recognise that for many of us this will come as a great disappointment. I had hoped that we would be able to offer the church as a place for worship and prayer during these uncertain times, but recent developments have made it clear to us that suspending our services and activities is the right and responsible way forward.

The Staff and Leadership Team will continue to work, albeit in new and different ways. Sarah and I are committed to providing material for you to use at home, whether you are alone or part of a family that could worship together. We are also hoping to record talks to go onto our Vimeo account. More to follow.

We anticipate the church office will be staffed on a daily basis - health permitting - and you can call the church office if you have a question, or wish to let us know that you (or someone else from HT) are isolated and in need. Our Parish Nurse, Hannah, will also be active in co-ordinating pastoral care over coming weeks. I will write again with further details of how we plan to offer support to our members.

We are keen to actively inform all those on the Electoral Roll and Church Family List of this decision, and to keep everyone updated and informed of developments. 

If you know of someone who needs to hear this news but is not on the email list, then would you please let them know? Don't leave it to someone else, it would be far better for them to receive duplicate phone calls from HT members than to get none!

Do we have your details on Church Suite? Please check that we have your correct details - particularly email address and a phone number – so that we can have access to them (contact rachel@htredhill.com if you need to know more). It is more important than ever that we are able to communicate well with each other at this time.

In my sermon on Sunday I made reference to 'redeeming this time' for good. There is much fear around about the very real threat to people's health and wealth, and we need to both love our neighbour and to share our hope in Christ. In the earliest days of the church, members were 'scattered' due to persecution - eg Acts 11:19-21 - and in God's good purposes the church grew as the seed of the gospel fell onto ground that the church might not have visited but for the persecution. In our day, churches like ours major on a 'come and see' form of outreach (we open our doors and God sends people to us) - but we are now in a time where we can practice a 'go and tell' model of mission. We don't come to church, we are the church wherever we are, carrying the good news of Jesus. I will write to you tomorrow with some practical suggestions on how we might all be involved in doing this, using our resources to serve our community in a time of need.

Let's pray that as we seek God in this time of uncertainty the Lord will use us for good in his service. Now, more than ever, 'Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus'.

Your friend and Vicar,

Mick